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Showtime nurses pickup for Falco comedy series

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Showtime is close to giving a series pickup to its dark comedy starring Edie Falco.

The premium cable network is expected to make the announcement as soon as today at its presentation to the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton.

The network put the untitled single-camera comedy, co-produced by Showtime and Lionsgate TV, on the fast track in February when it picked it up to pilot. The project stars Falco as a strong-willed, iconoclastic New York nurse juggling the frenzied grind of an urban hospital and an equally challenging personal life. Peter Facinelli, Paul Schulze, Merritt Wever, Eve Best, Haaz Sleiman and Anna Deavere Smith co-starred in the pilot, written by Liz Brixius, Linda Wallem and Evan Dunsky.

Word of the impending green light comes on the heels of Falco's Emmy nomination for her comedic turn on NBC's "30 Rock" and Showtime's series pickup of the Diablo Cody-penned comedy "The United States of Tara." Also in contention for a series pickup is the Tim Robbins-penned drama "Possible Side Effects."

Showtime is on roll of late, having nabbed 21 Emmy noms Thursday — its most in a single year. (partialdiff)